UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA
Grant: $45,331 - National Science Foundation - Aug. 24, 2009
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Award Description: This project will address the development and timing of dune activity in the state of Wisconsin. The objectives of this project are 1) to provide students with significant field and laboratory training in geomorphology and geochronology including: field reconnaissance, hypothesis generation, site selection, ground penetrating radar, sediment and optical luminescence sampling, laboratory analysis and dissemination of results, 2) to provide students an opportunity to participate in a project of regional significance to geomorphologists and Quaternary scientists, and 3) to provide cohort building opportunities for students that will serve them throughout their graduate and/or professional STEM careers. Sixty five percent of the budget supports student activities and funds are budgeted to facilitate internal and external evaluation and assessment of the program including a site visit by the Council of Undergraduate Research. Intellectual Merit: In addition to its primary role of undergraduate training, the DUGG project is important because the geologic and climatic factors responsible for dune formation in the Upper Midwest are poorly understood. Historically, these deposits have not been studied in detail because of a lack of datable materials associated with them. However, advances in optically stimulated luminescence (aka OSL) dating, which can directly estimate when dunes were last active, are increasing the importance of dune studies in the region. Over the course of the three year project, DUGG students will produce 48 OSL age estimates, which will improve our knowledge of the region’s eolian history, but also provide minimum age estimates for deglaciation, abandonment of glacial outwash plains, drainage of proglacial lakes and the development of the western Lake Michigan shoreline. Broader Impacts: The activities in this project promote undergraduate teaching, training, and learning by directly involving undergraduate students in our research. The proposal includes funds for students to attend regional and national meetings for dissemination of their results. DUGG uses a Project Based Learning model that will benefit society because it enforces SCANS and enGauge 21st century skills to prepare students for the transition to a post-industrial knowledge society and project-oriented world. Finally, this project emphasizes the use of both traditional and state of the art field and laboratory methods that are commonly used in Quaternary studies.
Project Description: To date there has been no money spent from my budget on this project as we are gearing up to recruit students for this course in June 2010. I am co-presenting a poster at the Geological Society of America Annual Meeting in Portland, Oregon on October 21, 2009. This poster is an announcement of this REU (Research Experience for Undergraduates) site and will be used to educate our colleagues on the project and to recruit students for summer 2010. A web site for DUGG has also been started and is currently active on the NSF web site at: http://www.uwplatt.edu/~rawlingj/DUGG.html.
Infrastructure Description: N/A
Jobs Summary: N/A (Total jobs reported: 0)
Project Status: Less Than 50% Completed
This award's data was last updated on Aug. 24, 2009. Help expand these official descriptions using the wiki below.
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